System of remote control.



J. D. WQLUAMSON, In. swim 0F REMOTE co'NTRoL. APPUCAUON FiLED F55. w; 1915.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916 4 swans-shin 1.

- J. D. WiLLlAMSON, JR.

SYSTEM OF REMOTLE CONTROL. APPLIFALUJN HLED FEB. 13. 1915.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

4 SHEETS -SHEET 2.'

]. D. WILLIAMSON, 18L

' SYSTEM-0F REMOTE CONTROL APPLICATION FIVLED FEB. 13. 1915.

Patsnted Feb. 8, 1916 w I A Patented Feb. 8,1916.

4 SHEETS-SWEET 4.

UNKPED STATES P ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. WILLIAMSCN JR., F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AME-3L CAN ENGINEERING CGMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CQRPGRA- TION O35 ill-PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM or REMOTE conrnon Application filed February 13, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l, Jenn D. ll'lnmimson', Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented at System of Remote Control, of which the icllowing n specification.

()no obj .01; of my invention is to gerovlde at relatively pie apparatus for controlling the operation of 2?, motor at d stance and more particularly the rudder operating motor of an electrical steering system or of a motor for control ing the operation of an en gine, the invention contemplating an arrongeinent parts whereby motor may be caused to more the rudder or other member to be controlled into any desired position' corresponding to that of steering wheel or operating member.

A further ohiect of the invention is to provide a system having the above chnrncte is tics which shall. require it relatively sn all number of wires between the steering Wheel or controlling; member nnd those parts of the apparatus innnedintely associated with the rudder, it being also desired to provide a novel form of floating" gear whereby as the rudder is being brought to a desired position, certain parts are gradually moved so as to ultimately p event further movement of the actuating motor when the rudder has reached the predetermined ooin't I further desire to provide a novel form of role apparatus for governing the opera tion (lit the rmlder actuating motor of an electrical steering gear.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure nfter set forth, reference being had tho eccompanying drawings in. whren,

. nres l and ere diagrammatic. views illustrating the apparatus comprising two forms 01 nov invention; 3 is 21 plan, to some extent disgrsnnmitic, further illustrating the anpsrstns utilized in the system shown L Fi s. 4 and 5 are respectively a front and a side elevation of the floating gezir shown in plan in Fig. r i"; and 7 are e.- jil n and. a side elevation, both partly in section, illustrating the preferred construction of certain of the switches ing' pnrt oi. any intention; and Fig; 8 a side elevation, to some extent diagmnnnstic, illustrating certain the mechanism shown in Fig, 2,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 7,991.

In the above ill-swings, the current supply mains are indicated at l and 2 and to the first of these is connected a controlling rl1eostat which includes a, supportin plate 4, an operating handle 5 and two series of contact points (3. Between the points of one se ries are connected banks of resistance and these points are cross connected with the correspondingly placed points of the second series. Both sets of )oints are mounted on a circle concentric With the pivotal point of the handle 5 "with which are also concentric two contact segnients in the form of strips 8 and 9 so placed that when the handle is in its vertical or oil' position, its bridging contact engages neither of the segments 8 and 9 nor any of the points 6.

From the segments 8 and 9 two conductors 10 and 11 run respectively to a, pair of electro-xnngnets in the form of solenoids 12 and 13, whose second terminals are connected together and to the negative supply main 2, it being understood that while the controlling rheostnt 3. is placed at any desired point, the solenoids l2 and 13, together with the other apparatus hereafter described, are mounted innnediately adjacent or in the Vicinity of the rudder, or other member to be controlled so that the conductors 10 and 11 constitute the sole connection between these two sets of apps *atus.

The solenoid 12 is provided with a core 14,- cs'rrying a contact 15 permanently connected to positive supply main and capable of being brought into electrical engagement with either of two f xed contacts 16 and 17. Similarly the solenoid 13 has core 18 which carries a contact 19 capable of being moved into engagement with either of two contacts 20 and EL While said contact 19 is con nected to the positive supply main, the upper fixed contact 20 with the lower fixed contact 1'? is connected to one terminal of a solenoid 22 whose second terminal is connected to the negative supply main. The upper fixed contract 16 of the solenoid 12, Will the lower fixed contact 21 of the solenoid 13, is con nected to one terminal of a second solenoid. 23 whose other terminal is likewise connected to the negative supply main. Each of these latter solenoids and has its core con nested to a member carrying two clectricall insulated contact plates of which the pin e 2e: controlled by he solenoid 22 has one of its contacts capable of electrically connecting two fixed contacts 26 and 27 while its other, contact 28 is similarly connected to two other fixed c ntacts 29 and 30. lhe plate 31 I, nectedato the core of. the solenoid 23 lilr carries'two contact members 32 and 33 i which the first is capable of connecting fixed contacts 34: and 35 when the solenoid energized, at which time the member 33 likewise connect the two other fixed contmh-s 36 and 37. The rudder in this case is tn acted by a motor 33 whose field Winding ltl may be connected directly between the sup ply mains 1 and 2 while its armature 39 has one terminal connected to the contacts 26 and 37 and its second terminal connected. to the contacts 29 and 35. The fixed contacts and 36 are both connected to the positive supply main while the contacts 27 and 3st are similarly connected to the negative supply mam.

In the particular case illustrated the motor 38 is shown as driving a worm 41 which,

through a worm wheel 42, actuates a drum 43 having mounted upon it the cables a l and 45 leading to the tiller. The shaft on which both the worm wheel 42 and the drum 43 are mounted likewise has fixed to it a gear t6 meshing with a gear 27 fixed to a shaft 43, this latter being mounted in suitable bearings provided by the general frame work 49 on which the worm and worm wheel with their associated parts are also supported. The shaft 48 in addition to the gear wheel 47, has fixed to it a pinion 50, so mounted as to mesh with two oppositely placed racks 51 and 52 slidably guided in the front portion of the frame 49. Elaid raclrs are made tubular for the reception of a pair of vertically movable rods 53 and 54- each of which at its upper end is provided with a nut whereby it may be raised or held from drop ping by its particular rack. In addition each of these rods has mounted on it a nut 55 placed to engage a cross bar 56 on the frame after the rod to which it belongs has been lowered a predetermined distance and each rod has fixed to its lower end an arm 5? projecting at right angles to its center line as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. At the outer extremity of each of these arms is pivoted a movable switch member 58 whose free extremity is capable of ingeither of the two contacts 161? or 20-21, as the case may be when actuated "by the core 14 or 18 of one of the solenoids 12 or 13. F or the purpose of connecting said core with the switch member or arm 58, l mount in its lower end an insulating bushing 59 and screw into this the threaded end of an eyebolt 60 whose opposite end is pivoted or otherwise loosely connected to said memberSZ-l adjacent its pivotal point 6i.

With thepabove described arrangement of parts, a movement of the operating handle 5 of the rheostat to the left for example, will permit a current of definite quantity to flow from the positive supply main to the solenoid 12, from whence a circuit is complete through the conductor 62 to the negative current main. The resulting energization of this solenoid at once raises its core 14; to a point dependent upon the current strength, it being understood that the proportions of the solenoids and the current used are such as to cause the solenoids to be unsaturated under operating conditions. This upward movement of the core 14 causes the switch arm 58 to be first moved into engagement with the contact 16 of the arm 5? carried by the rod 53 and thereafter causes raising of this rod through and independently of its raclc 52.

The completion of the circuit between the arm 58 and this contact permits current to flow from the positive supply main through the conductor 63, to the contact 15 carried by the arm 58, thence tothe contact 16, solenoid 23 and conductor 84-. to the negative supply line. The immediate raising of the core of this latter solenoid causes the completion of the armature circuit of the motor from the positive supply main through the conductors 65 and 66, contacts 36, 33 and 37, conductors 67 and 68, and armature 39. From the. latter the current flows through the conductor 69, the contacts 35, 32 and $54, thence through the conductors 70 and 71 to the negative supply main.

As the field winding 40 of the motor is constantly energized, the motor at once starts and returns the worm ti, worm wheel 42 and cable drum 43 in a, definite direction,

causing operation of the rudder through one or the other of the cables 44 or 4-5 from its amidships position. its direction of movement is such however that through the gears 46 and i7, shaft and pinion 50, the rack 52 is raised and the rack 51 lowered, so that while this latter rack has no ellcct upon its rod which is merely supported by the nut 55, the rack 52 followsup the rod 53, until the continued operation of the motor finally brings it into engagement with the nut at the top of said rod. 'l he latter is then raised with the rack until the contact 16 is moved away from the contact 15 It now that arm 5 is moved farther to the left, more of the resistance 7 is cut out of circuit, a larger current flows to the solenoid and the ore l-l is raised higher. At once the arm 58 is i lOVQtl to bring its contact 15 into engagement with the contact 16, thereby energizing the solenoid and again starting the motor 38 which operates until. the rack 52 is again followed by the rod for suliicient distance to cause breakage of the circuit of the solenoid 23 at the contacts and 16, The rudder is thus brought to and held in a new position which again corresponds to that of the operating handle If the operating arm 5 be moved to its neutral :position and beyond the same into engagement with the segment 9, the solenoid 12 is at once deenergized so that its core 1s drops and causes engagement of the contacts 15 and 17, at the same time that curernt is allowed to flow in definite amount through the conductor 11 to the solenoid 13 which at once raises its core 18 and with it the rod 51 to a definite height. In this case the resulting engagementof the contacts 19 and 20 as well as the engagement of the contacts 15 and 1? controlled by the .deenergized solenoid 12, allows current to flow to the solenoid The raising of the core of said solenoid conipletes the armature circuit but in such man ner that the current flows from the "positive supply main to the condlmtors 653 and 73, contacts,,30, 28 and 29, and conductor 69 to the armature, from whence it flows through conductors (38 and 74, contacts 26, 25 and 27, to the contact 71 and the negative supply main 2. Obviously therefore, the armature turns in a direction opposite to that prev1- ously indicated and the rack 52 is lowered by power transmitted from the cable drum shaft through gears 46 and +17, shaft 4. 8 and pinion. 50. When the rudder reaches the amidships position the rack. 52 has so far lowered its rod 53 as to cause separation its contacts 15 and 1.7, but this does not atlect the solenoid 22 whose circuit is still closed through the contacts 19 and 20. The motor therefore continues its operation past the amidships position until the pinion 50 causes the rack 51 to so far follow up the nut at the upper end of the rod 54 as to separate the contacts 19 and 20, whereupon the solenoid 22 is at once deenergized and the motor brought to rest with the rudder in a posi- 55 ,tion corresponding to the angular displacement of the operating handle from its oil position. In this case the solenoid 13 continues to be supplied with current, although if the operating handle he moved to and allowed. to remain in its mid position (Fig.v 3) the deenergization of said solenoid causes its core 18 to drop, thereby completing the circuit of the solenoid 23 from the positive supply main. throu h the conductor 63, con tacts 19 andxfll, t rough the windings of this solenoid and conductor St to the negative sup ly main. The consequent completion of the armature circuit of the motor will therefore cause the operation of the latter until the rack 51 has been so far lowered by the pinion 50 to allow the contact to disengage the? contact 19, whereupon the circuit ol the solenoid 23 and of the motor armature are broken, at which time the rudder is in its arnidships position.

The number of the contact points 6 and the amount of the resistance 1'' are so proportioned that the cores 11 and 18 of the two solenoids and 13 will occupy a definite position for every point on the plate l, while the remainder of the apparatus is so designed that the rudder is brought by the operation of the motor, to an angular position depending solely upon the position of the handle 5, it being especially noted that this desired end is obtained by comparatively uncomplicated apparatus requiring but a single pair of control wires leading from the pilot house or other point at which the controlling rheostat 8 is mounted, to the immediate vicinity of the rudder operating machinery. With this arrangement the con- I given in the pilot house or adjacent the steering wheel, to when the rudder has reached a position corresponding to that of the steering wheel or operating handle, I may arrange the various parts of my system as indicated in Fig. 2, in which case, four instead. of two wires are required between the rudder actuating apparatus and said wheel or handle. In this case the steering wheel 89 is connected through beveled gear-- ing to a shaft 81. carrying beveled pinion meshing with a beveled gear wheel 8-3 mounted on shaft which also has it a spur gear Opposite sides of this latter are engaged by a pair of vertically guided racks and 88 forming part of rods whose lower ends are headed and pass loosely through collars 87 and 88 preferably of insulating material. The first of these collars carries the contacts 16 and 17 while the second carries the contacts 20 and 21, and of these the first pair coacts with the contact 15 carried by the core 1% of the solenoid 12 and those of the second cooperate with the contact 19 carried on the core 18 of tee solenoid 13. lVith this arrangement of parts the rheostat 3 is mounted immediately adjacent the rudder operating mechanism, while the two solenoids 12 and 13 and th l. associated parts are, as shown, mount 1 in the immediate vicinity the There are theretore, two

wires 89 and 90 in addition to the wires 10 and 11, which extend between the rudder operating mechanism and the pilot house, and as before the solenoids 12 and 13 control the energization ol the solenoids 22 and 223 which likewise govern the supply of current to the armature 38. The tiller cables 4 and 4:5 in this instance run from a drum 4% driven from the motor through a worm 41, and worm wheel 22, although the drum shaft is connected through a second wor n 91, a worm Wheel. 92, shaft and beveled gears 95': and 95 to the shaft or spindle 96 on which is mounted the operating arm of the rheostat 3, W hen .thtufieiore the steering wheel is turned from its mid position, one of the racks is raised and the other is lowered, with the result that while the latter does not affect its bushing since this is supported upon a strip 98, the collar 8? is raised, thus bringing the contacts 15 and 17 into engagement and thereafter raising the core M of the solenoid. its a CONSO- quence of this the solenoid 23 is energized. the motor is started, and the rudder is turned, the gearing between the motor shaft and the operating handle 5 of the rheostat turning the latter from its mid or oli position until finally such a current llows from the positive supply main through the conductor 10 that the solenoid12 draws up its core let to such a height as to cause the contact 15 to disen 'age the contact 17, whereupon the solenoid 2:3 and the motor 3B are open. circuited as before explained Since this action or the solenoid 12 does not take place until the rudder occupies the position desired, the rising and ultimate coining to rest of the core 11 furnishes to the steersman a visible iiulication that the required movement of said rudder hasbeen completed.

ll it be desired to thcrca'l'ter bring the rudder into a position nearer amidships, the rack 85 is lowered independently oi the core 1% of the solenoid i2 and when the arm 5 of the rheostat has been turned by the operation of the motor so far tovv'ard its vertical or off position that the current llow to the. solenoid reaches such a point as to allow the core 14; to drop out of engagement with the contact 16, the motor is brought to rest as before. 4

From the above description it will he noted, that while in one case the operation ol the motor and hence of the rudder. resuits, when the rudder occupies a predetermined position, in the automatic separation of contacts previously brought together as the result of the cncrgization oi an electromagnet controlled by a hand operated rheostat, in the second case such operation is caused by the hand controlled closure of a pair oi? contacts ,oovcrning the cnergization.

n or solenoids to the motor re versing switch, the ar angement being such that by the time the rudder occupies the desired position, said rheostat has been moved by the motor to a positionin which the hand closed contacts are separated because ot' the resulting energization of the solenoid con trolling them. In other words, in one case the rheostat is moved by hand and the main controlling contacts are separated by operation of the motor, while in the other case the rheostat is operated by the motor and the contacts are controlled by hand.

It is particularly to be noted that while I have illustrated my invention as designed for use in controllingthc operation of a rudder actuating motor, said invention is equally well adapted to control the valve mechanism of the fuel supply of a steam or internal combustion engine and while I have shown the field winding of the motor I-l'o permanently connected across the supply mains as would be the use it said motor is of relatively small power. it will be understood that when a large motor is to be operated or controlled, the reversing switch would be connected to govern the standard or other switch mechanism commonly used in, such cases.

Vhile in Figs. (3 and T I have shown one form of contactor, it will be understood that without departing from my invention any other suitable switch may be used,

l. The combination of a motor; arevei inn switch therefor; two electro-magnets for governing the operation of said switch; a pair of contacts connected to control the energization of said electrounagnets and movable bv the motor; a third electro-magnet; a contact operative by the movable member of said electro iuagrnet into engagement with one or the other of said first contacts; and a switch for controlling energization of the third elcctro-magnet.

:2. The combination of a motor; reversing means therefor; a solenoid having a movable member controlling; said reversing means; current varving means in circuit with the solenoid winding for governing the position of said movable member; with/ads "rice other than said current varyinnj rheans for mechanically shifting the position of said movable member.

The combination of a motor; reversing means therefor; two solenoids having movable members controlling said reversing meansr gearing connecting said members;

a current varying device governing the flow of current to the solenoid windings for adustmg the positions of their movable memhers; and means for manually actuating the gearing connecting" the movable solenoid members for also controlling the position s of the same.

i. The combination oi.

a motor; revere Li: moraine members of the so ion ol. :1 motor; an elecc revcrsinolWiiCii therefor; two

ml each inn in"- :i ng the cur- J to Flilkl QiQCiZlU-Jl!" .n to adjust; the ions of choir ino'vzihle members; and mar. 11 r mljnsting Siiiil. LliOllllJfi L3. 1. or controlling apparatus cor L of o. solenoid. liming; a. core; :1. cont-sci; carried. on iliO- .:a 'e; two co-z'ipernting contacts on opposite males of lliG uorecontnci;; o

2-5 structure supporting said luier COZl'lflCtS;

means for s'iii'flllkfl: the current 110W to the solenoid. Willi 0.3.11

vary the position no core; sins in circuit viii: sol to cause said confine;

sepnratil'in of one or ii: o';

. for governing the posiie :2. movable structu e is solenoid; coopomting switch s .-..ol,ively COI}}""' A1 to core. E

I o. motor gorerne ,1 said contacts;

' etor v l6: .--o1 extent om con .3; we flow so the some to no iiime of operation of the motor.

iho combination a. motor; a rovers e motor to automatically open I r it has operated for a prede- 51ml 3. current varying device irons the controlling means for veryin ijl'li: time the motor is in operation; with condo-or ers forming the sole connection seen device and the controlling ens.

ombinn'i-ion of a motor; a reversing switch sir. efor; two electro-mzignets for controlling said elcciroainogncizs for governing the operation oi? he rem 21g swiieirmngnets and. includ- UYill3i8 switch governing members; gear connecting the motor with said lion members; and manually operated current varying: means in circuit with the windings f sniil gn'imori :cnei psir of electr c-magnets for A naijnsizing their movable members to ilciini points.

.11. The combination of a motor; a reversing switch therefor including two electromagnets; two other electro-niagnets having movable switch. members connected to govern the energixation of the rcversin" switch I manually operated means or causminor of sand members to assume any of ets is closed iili followup gear actuated. size motor and connected to the members 0:... sale. second pair of magnets for causing opening of the switches controlled thereb and. rlee ergissxiion 017 5116 reversing switc the motor has operated for a 1. cr-

time. x l

i. The combination of a motor; a reversswitch the; ortwo electro-mzwnets for governing the operation of said switch; a

pair of contacts eonnecked to control the em :ition of said elcctro-mugnets and movable by the motor; o solenoia; a contact oprotire For the movable member of'said soleinto engagement with either of said.

member. In testimony whereof, I have signed my oer diiierent positions in which the one oi. the reversing switch mag reversing switch; two other contacts; and 11V current 'arying fzievice', I for controlling the position 'Of smd'movable name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SUI-1N I). WILLIAMSON, JR. Witnesses: v

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY,

e WM, A. Bum 

